But Harry and Meghan aren't like the other royals, with American Meghan working as an actress until just last month, and Harry still playing down his old reputation as the 'playboy prince'.

Here's a look inside their modern-day fairytale romance...

When did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle first meet?

The pair were first introduced in London in July 2016 through mutual friends, but didn't start dating straight away.

Meghan at that point was still based in her adopted hometown of Toronto, where her US drama Suits is filmed.

Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane in Suits, which she starred in for six years (Image: Universal Cable Productions)

They'd met while Harry was promoting the Invictus Games - the event he'd helped launch for disabled military personnel - in London, and Meghan shared a picture of herself visiting Buckingham Palace on July 5.

She'd also been spotted in the Royal box at Wimbledon in late June, prompting speculation that she was already well acquainted with Harry's family.

Meghan was spotted watching the tennis at Wimbledon in June 2016 (Image: WireImage)

When did Harry and Meghan start dating?

In October 2016, the first rumours surrounding their relationship began swirling when the pair were seen at a Halloween party in Toronto.

It was thought they'd been dating for about a month at that point, but Meghan later told Vanity Fair that they'd managed to keep their romance under wraps for a whopping six months.

"We were very quietly dating for about six months before it became news, and I was working during that whole time, and the only thing that changed was people's perception," she said in October 2017.

"Nothing about me changed. I'm still the same person that I am, and I've never defined myself by my relationship."

Meghan opened up about her and Harry's relationship to Vanity Fair (Image: Peter Lindbergh exclusively for Vanity Fair)

When did they go public with their romance?

Once the speculation started bubbling, it didn't take long before their relationship was blown into the public sphere.

Just two weeks after the news broke, Harry took the unprecedented step of blasting the media for prying into Meghan's private life - and even called out trolls for making racist comments about her.

The statement was the first time Harry called Meghan his girlfriend in public as he warned the media to steer clear.

"His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment. Some of this has been very public - the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments," the statement read.

"Some of it has been hidden from the public - the nightly legal battles to keep defamatory stories out of papers; her mother having to struggle past photographers in order to get to her front door; the attempts of reporters and photographers to gain illegal entry to her home and the calls to police that followed; the substantial bribes offered by papers to her ex-boyfriend; the bombardment of nearly every friend, co-worker, and loved one in her life."

Harry warned people off from harassing Meghan because of their relationship (Image: Getty Images)

It went on: "Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her. It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm. He knows commentators will say this is ‘the price she has to pay’ and that ‘this is all part of the game’. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game - it is her life and his.

"He has asked for this statement to be issued in the hopes that those in the press who have been driving this story can pause and reflect before any further damage is done. He knows that it is unusual to issue a statement like this, but hopes that fair-minded people will understand why he has felt it necessary to speak publicly," it added.

Meghan's photo of herself wearing a bracelet identical to Prince Harry's only fuelled the rumours of romance (Image: @meghanmarkle/Instagram)

They both wore their heart on their sleeve (Image: Getty/Instagram)

When did Meghan first speak about Harry?

Meghan did a glossy covershoot and interview with Vanity Fair in October 2017, in which she repeatedly called the royal her "boyfriend" and gushed about their relationship.

"We're a couple. We're in love," she said.

"I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time. This is for us.

"It's part of what makes it so special, that it's just ours. But we're happy. Personally, I love a great love story.

"I can tell you that at the end of the day I think it's really simple. We're two people who are really happy and in love," she added.

She gushed about their relationship and revealed they'd kept it secret for six months (Image: YouTube)

When did Harry introduce Meghan to the royal family?

Just seven months after they met, Harry reportedly took Meghan to London to meet his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Kate Middleton - the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

He is also thought to have introduced his girlfriend to the Queen on Mother's Day, Sunday 26 March 2017.

Meghan was at Pippa Middleton's wedding to James Matthews in May 2017 (Image: AFP)

Harry went to pick her up after the church ceremony - he'd previously introduced Meghan to Kate and William (Image: GETTY)

She came with him to Kate's sister Pippa Middleton 's wedding in May, carefully avoiding the cameras by getting Harry to pick her up after the church ceremony and just in time for the evening reception.

The Duke and Duchess confirmed today that they have been "getting to know" Meghan and love to "see how happy she and Harry are together".

When was Harry and Meghan's first official outing as a couple?

Their first official outing as a couple was in September 25 in Meghan's adopted hometown, Toronto (Image: REUTERS)

They looked very affectionate and relaxed with each other (Image: Getty Images North America)

The two were seen together at the Invictus Games in Toronto on September 25 2017.

Dressed down in skinny ripped jeans, a white shirt and sunglasses, Meghan laughed and smiled as Harry whispered in her ear in full view of spectators.

They cosied up together with lots of affectionate touches - and were even spotted kissing inside their private box where Meghan's mum Doria and her best friends Markus Anderson and Jessica Mulroney were given seats.

When did Harry and Meghan get engaged?

Details of the actual proposal are yet to be revealed, but Kensington Palace announced they were engaged on November 27 2017 following weeks of speculation.

Palace officials said Harry and Meghan got engaged in London "earlier this month", so it may have happened shortly after she left Toronto for London when she quit Suits in October.